Swimming & Diving (W)

Lyons swimming & diving team donates supplies to local school

Dec 14, 2011

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College men's and women's swimming & diving program donated three large bins of art materials, office supplies, and new toys to the Harbor City School in East Boston on Monday.

The director of the Harbor City School, Carissa Hanagriff, is a 2006 graduate of Wheaton who was recently featured in the 'Wheaton People' section of the school's website. Upon seeing this piece, Lyons first-year head coach Barrett Roberts contacted Hanagriff and asked about ways in which his team could help in the school's start-up phase.

"Our team was very eager to take part in this supply drive for the Harbor City School, a newly established preschool in East Boston," explained Roberts. "Carissa has put her Wheaton degree to great use, and this supply drive was a way for our team to take part in a community service project with a Wheaton connection. The members of our team donated jump ropes, musical instruments, arts & crafts supplies, as well as dozens of other items the school requested. We hope the children at the Harbor City School benefit from the use of these supplies and we wish them the best this school year!"

Opened in 2010, Harbor City School is a non-profit independent preschool created by a small group of dedicated local parents. HCS aims to provide a year-round nurturing and stimulating environment for up to twenty children at a time, aged 2 years 9 months to 5 years old.

The following was posted on the HCS website shortly after the team's donation was delivered: "The generous gift from the Wheaton swimming and diving team includes many items our classroom was lacking, including jump ropes and several musical instruments. They also stocked us up on many art supplies that we use up and have to replace, like paints, crayons, markers, collage materials, and over 150 paint brushes! I truly am overwhelmed by this support from students at my alma mater. The words "thank you" do not fully express my gratitude. I'd call that a wonderful alumni connection!"